PDF 30th August 2016
The Indian Space Research Organization joined an elite (अ भजात वग) club when, on Sunday, it
successfully launched a rocket using a scramjet engine that was developed indigenously
( वदे शी). This is ISRO’s first major step towards developing an air breathing propulsion system.
The scramjet engine functioned for around six seconds. There are many reasons why the use of a
scramjet engine is so attractive. A scramjet engine uses oxygen present in the atmospheric air to
burn the hydrogen fuel. As a result, the amount of oxygen required to be carried on board would
be reduced considerably as atmospheric oxygen is utilized to burn the fuel in the first stage. In
general, propellant accounts for nearly 85 per cent of the weight of a rocket, and oxygen
accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the weight of the propellant. Scramjet-powered rockets also
have several times greater thrust compared with rockets powered by liquid fuel or even
cryogenic fuel. Since about half of the propellant is required for the first stage to achieve the
required velocity, a rocket using a scramjet engine would be significantly lighter and smaller
and, therefore, cheaper. Alternatively, rockets fired by scramjet engines will be able to carry
more payload.
Sunday’s test flight, which attained ( ा त करना) six times the speed of sound (Mach 6) and was
able to achieve ignition and maintain stable combustion even at such high velocity for about six
seconds, is a big technological achievement. This is akin (स श / समान)to “lighting a matchstick
in a hurricane condition and sustaining (बनाये रखना / संभाले रखना )the flame” for six seconds.
The air intake mechanism and fuel injection systems were also successfully demonstrated during
the maiden test flight. Since it relies ( नभर करना ) on oxygen present in the atmosphere, the
trajectories (
ेप पथ ) of scramjet engine-powered rockets are vastly different from
conventional (पार प रक ) ones — rockets with scramjet engines should remain in the
atmosphere for a longer period than normal rockets. Typically, scramjet rockets climb to a
certain altitude and remain in the atmosphere for as long as possible to achieve the required
velocity. It will take many years before a commercial rocket powered by a scramjet engine takes
to the sky as there are several challenges to be overcome. One challenge will be to test the engine
at higher Mach speeds and prolong ( बढ़ाना / वृ
करना ) the period of combustion. Since the
scramjet comes into play only when the rocket goes beyond Mach 5, an engine that initially
works at subsonic speed (as a ramjet) and later as a scramjet has to be developed. But as in the
case of the successful test flight of a reusable vehicle, the first experimental flight using a
scramjet engine is a technological demonstration ( दशन / माण ) of ISRO’s capability and
will go a long way in redefining its position as one of the leading space agencies in the world.
1. Elite (अ भजात वग)


Synonyms : Aristocratic , Selected , Upper- Class
Antonyms : Inferior , Lower Class , Ordinary
2. Indigenously ( वदे शी)


Synonyms : Connate , Endemic , Congenital
Antonyms : Alien , Foreign
3. Attained ( ा त करना)


Synonyms : Achieve, Earn , Grasp , Accede To
Antonyms : Lose , Forfeit , Abandon
4. Akin (स श / समान)


Synonyms : Similar , Comparable , Alike , Kindred
Antonyms : Dissimilar , Unlike , Different
5. Sustaining (बनाये रखना / संभाले रखना)


Synonyms : Maintaining , Keep Going , Continue
Antonyms : Deprive , Let Down
6. Relies ( नभर करना)


Synonyms : Keep Faith , Depend , Confide
Antonyms : Disbelief , Distrust
7. Trajectories (

ेप पथ)
Synonyms : Path, Route , Orbit
8. Conventional (पार प रक)


Synonyms : Traditional , Customary . Prevalent , Accustomed
Antonyms : Modern , Irregular , Unusual , Uncustomary
9. Prolong ( बढ़ाना / वृ


करना)
Synonyms : Increase , Magnify , Elongate , Lengthen
Antonyms : Shorten , Decrease , Abbreviate
10. Demonstration ( दशन / माण)


Synonyms : Display , Manifestation , Presentation
Antonyms : Concealment , Hiding
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